Music of the many seas. One travellers perspective of an experience exploring the world, new cultures and navigating the human experience.
Imagery of ancient maps, dragons and sea monsters, boats, the feeling of motion and travel. Global yet familiar, decorated in story and history.
A traveller takes in everything and produces an account in the terms of his home land and culture.
Genres are adopted but nearly always carry a flavour of the perception of the traveller.
Jake Hakus studied the drums beginning at the age of 9 or earlier, with access to drum-set having been a permanent fixture in his family home. At 16 the passion for Drums and Music had taken over completely and from this age all his efforts and focus was channelled into the mission of improving as a musician and drummer. Passing a course of Music Tech at A level opened new doors and possibilities.
At 19 Jake enrolled at BIMM Brighton and began pursuing a full time career in music.
At 20 he began studying classical piano and guitar with the intention of becoming more musically literate and therefore being abe to contribute more to the bands he was working with at the time.
During his years at BIMM Jake was able to work with a huge variety of musicians and hone his skills as a drummer under some of the best educators in the UK. He also created his own musical project “Paradolia” and managed the band. While playing drums for “The Arabella Hate Club” he met Joe Travis Dean, the band leader of Town Of Cats.
Becoming the full time drummer for Town Of Cats during a massively productive period for the band. Playing Festivals every weekend, often more than one and also recording drums for the album “Dance off the Deadbeat” and other singles such as “Walls”, “Lemons” and “The Owl and The Pussycat”.
Jake was also managing and producing other music alongside this project and working as a session musician.
After 5 years of gigging with Town Of Cats. Jake accompanied the Leader of Town of Cats to Australia, with the intention of showcasing the band to an audience on the other side of the world and trying to connect with the fan base of such bands as Cat Empire who were a huge inspiration to the group.
During his time in Australia Jake began to write and produce his own music, accelerating his guitar practice to accommodate the new songs he was writing. He became a full time busker in the trains of Melbourne, playing every day and developing his music. Origionally with a small group of friends but later as a solo artist.
The train turned out to be the perfect training ground for the young singer songwriter who was learning to project his voice and perform and also testing his songs for audience reaction with sometimes grumpy morning commuters in need of a pick me up.
During his time in Australia Jake also spent time living with Indigenous peoples in the Daintree Rainforest and learnt about the history and modern plight of indigenous people.
After Spending a year in Australia collectively over a period of 2 Years, In which Time Jake also returned to the UK for a tour with Town Of Cats. Jake was invited to visit a project in The Gambia West Africa.
At this time Jake was exposed to the traditional music of West Africa for the first time and began to learn Djembe from an African teacher for the first time, Focusing on Mandinka Serouba Rythms and songs.
After returning to the UK Jake continued to work as a session musician durning the Covid period, Programming his year to be a full time Drummer with a new job at Red Music teaching school and weekend gigs with Town of Cats and an Agency providing musicians for Weddings and Functions.
Unfortunately the Lockdown derailed this plan.
After Lockdown Jake Began working with Liz Ikamba and a Jazz Trio based in Brighton, But before the onset of the second lockdown Jake Moved to Ibiza.
In Ibiza Jake creating the project Sol Mission, as a platform to promote and continue working on his songs as a singer songwriter.
He also worked as a Session Drummer for Cosme Daniels and other projects, Recording Drums on several albums at La Granja studios and helping to form La Granja family band.
It was in Ibiza with the close friendship and guidance of Louki Djambe that Jake learned the arts of Body Percussion and Circle Music and workshop facilitation. First supporting Louki in his workshops before eventually being responsible for facilitating and leading the weekly session of Drumming, Circle Music and Body Percussion conducted every Monday at OINNI Garden Ibiza.
Louki, also an accomplished drummer, facilitator, ecstactic dance DJ and Percussionist, helped Jake to become embedded in the Ibiza music scene, playing for many Dj's and ecstatic Dance events and assisting Louki in the development of the concept of Ecstatic Jam.
After 2 Years working in post lockdown Ibiza Jake decided to return to the UK where he now resides for 6 months of the year. Continuing to return to West Africa, Senegal to continue his training and also creating the project “Liberation Music” to help aid his teachers and promote culture in less economically developed parts of the globe.
Jake continues to work as a session musician and singer songwriter and is currently recording an album of his own work.